An Assessment of Small-scale Fisheries of the Paraná River Delta Through the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach

We use the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) to assess the strengths and weaknesses of small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the Paraná River delta (Argentina), their vulnerability to different external stressors, and their role in the rural economy. Methods included semi-structured interviews and participant observation to assess 33 criteria corresponding to human, social, natural, physical, and financial capitals and to analyze the main governmental structures in fisheries management and policies. Natural, physical, and human capital showed the highest scores, while social and financial assets presented the lowest. Identified government institutions showed little capacity to address capital-strengthening measures. The SLA assessment allowed us to understand the critical factors and institutions that affect the performance of inland SSF and suggest that the fisheries of the lower Paraná River are highly vulnerable in the face of climate change and other external stressors.